Over the years people have become familiar with its St. Patrick’s Day festivities, but this month the Irish Association of Korea is going to add a little Scottish flavor with the “The Ceilidh.”
In conjunction with the St. Andrew’s Society of Seoul ― an association named after Scotland’s patron saint ― the association will be staging the family dance on Oct. 18.
A ceilidh is a social event with folk music, singing and traditional dancing, with its roots in the Celtic traditions of Ireland and Scotland. Similar to barn dancing, the dances are simple to allow everyone to take part.
Performers will include step dancers Tap Pung, Celtic musicians Bard, the traditional Irish Music Group Ceoltoiri Seoul, a traditional Scottish bagpiper, Scottish country dancing and rock band Sweet Murphy’s Fancy.
There will also be a special performance of Sean nos and broomstick dancing. “Sean nos” means “old style,” and is a casual style of dance that comes from Connemara in the far west of Ireland.
“The Ceilidh” is free and runs from 1-6 p.m. at D-Cube City near Sindorim Station.
Participants join in a ceilidh at the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations this year at Sindorim D-Cube City in Seoul. (Stephanie Anglemyer)
The IAK will host an after-party in partnership with Gaelic football team the Seoul Gaels from 8 p.m. in The Wolfhound in Itaewon-dong.
The Irish Association of Korea is also assisting the Irish Embassy with the 2014 “Send me to Ireland” video competition, a chance for Korean undergraduates to compete for an opportunity to study for a month in Ireland.
Participants are invited to make a fun, creative video on the theme “Send me to Ireland.” They should explain in the video who they are and why they want to go to Ireland, what they think of when they hear the word Ireland, how studying in Ireland will benefit them and how they will share their experience in Ireland with their friends.
The first prize is one month of study at the Emerald Cultural Institute in Ireland, including accommodation, return flights to Dublin and spending money. Runners-up will receive cash and cultural prizes.
The competition is open to full-time Korean undergraduates. To enter, upload a video up to 3 minutes long to YouTube and complete and submit the application form, available at www.iak.co.kr, to irishassociationkorea@gmail.com.
Entries should include at least 90 seconds of spoken English, and the deadline is 6 p.m. on Nov. 3.
By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)
